Gen 1 Night Vision worth it?

With nightvision devices you get what you pay for.

I want something more like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TDPRZ2/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?psc=1#nav-search-keywords

I would expect it to be pure novelty/ play thing for camping. I wouldn't really on it to see in an emergency moment.

Celt said:

I want something more like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TDPRZ2/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?psc=1#nav-search-keywords

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Better to spend the $450 on a monocular, not binocular. For several reasons.

freddy said:

Better to spend the $450 on a monocular, not binocular. For several reasons.

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Anything you'd recommend?

Celt said:

Anything you'd recommend?

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Sorry, no first hand experience with that specific market segment.

Try here: Night Vision - AR15.COM

freddy said:

Better to spend the $450 on a monocular, not binocular. For several reasons.

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Why is a monocular better?

Willjr75 said:

Why is a monocular better?

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First, if you have a NV budget below ~$8k then it makes sense to get a higher quality monocular rather than two lower quality tubes.

Second, keeping one eye dark adapted has significant advantages. It can allow you to:
A. see people/environment if the environment suddenly becomes awash in light, and
B. be aware if you are in fact visible to the others due to even slight amounts of ambient light

Also, better (peripheral) situational awareness with one eye unaided, and, less weight from a single tube.

The primary advantage of dual tubes is a bit of depth perception during rapid movement from point a to point b. That is best done with gen3.

No

It's shit, and not gen1. It's very low res digital nv. 2x magnification and a 320x240 screen which they say is comparable to gen1. Your better off buying the kids toy version they sell.


For just a bit more money you can build what I did and will be far superior. Plus mine has a 100 degree fov compared to the 12 degree you'll get on this low res screen.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007...on+goggles&dpPl=1&dpID=51o9uVXLWPL&ref=plSrch

This is the kids version which is more than likely the same specs without the 2x magnification. Probably even better off with these at least they can record images and video if you wanted.

Celt said:

I want something more like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TDPRZ2/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?psc=1#nav-search-keywords

Click to expand...

Those are what I was looking at when I decided to make my own. I wouldn't bother with gen1 or gen2. Both really need an illuminator from my research, and if you need an illuminator you may as well go to digital nv. You can get a better image quality, larger fov, lower price, and not have to worry about messing the tubes up as they are day/night compatable.

I got a gen 1 set for my dad a few years back (he never uses it by the way). I toyed with it a bit when we first got it. It's not super high quality and more of a novelty item if you ask me. If you have the dough spring for a higher end one.

I think Gen 1 is better than nothing. I have a couple sets for loaners for the neighbors. But as someone has already indicated, you get what you pay for. You can get a PVS-14 for around $2500. There are also thermal scopes. I have one made by Torrey Pines that I'd classify a 1st generation thermal scope, it'll show me if there are any coyotes in the yard, but the definition isn't great, it's good to maybe to 50-70 yards.

NYGuns said:

Is Gen 1 night vision worth it? I won't hunt with it, more a novelty / camping / shtf item that I stumbled across on Amazon for $85 - http://amzn.to/2FQFifL

Thoughts?

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I know VERY LITTLE.

Still, I would guess if your budget is limited, and if TSHTF, you're better off with SOMETHING than NOTHING.

BTW, the S has H T F so many times in history, it's not something for just paranoids.

Sadly, it seems to be almost inevitable.